Dripless pouring device



p 1950 R. J. KEMPER 2,521,523

DRIPLESS POURING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT KEMPER ATTORNEYS P 1950 R. J. KEMPER 2,521,523

DRIPLESS POURING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT J. KEMPER A r TO'RNEYS Patented Sept. 5, 1950 DRIPLESS POURING DEVICE Robert J. Kemper, San Carlos, Calif.

Application May 26, 1945, Serial No. 596,021

Claims.

This invention relates to the serving of thick orthin liquids from containers in a clean and economical manner. p

A prime object of the invention is to provide a pouring mouth, lip or spout which permits of pouring the desired quantity of liquid from a bottle, can, teapot, pitcher, or other container, without subsequent dripping of any of the liquid outside of the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pouring structure which will retract such portions of the liquid as would otherwise accumulate at the pouring edge or upon areas contiguous thereto, and to thus leave the structure free from drippings, in a sanitary condition, and ready for repetitive use for the intended purpose.

Another object of the invention is to prevent dripping, as an incident to the cessation of pouring, without the use of any device whatever accessory to the container neck or spout itself, ex-

cept where such accessory itself is an embodiment of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pouring structure having smooth contours, which is free of sharp edges or crevices, which will not interfere with the application of conventional closure means to containers embodying the invention, and which will lend itself readily to accepted manufacturing practices.

Figure 10 is a similar view with the container tipped still further back.

The invention is applied at the locus of pouring. Within a, neck ll of a container I2, is a concave, curved portion l3 which extends from the top of the neck downwardly to the point of juncture with the vertical wall of the container, indicated at M. Its dimension need be no more than sufiicient to form a pool of the liquid being poured of a volume of at least 3 or 4 drops, This concavity flares outwardly so that the internal Further objects of the invention are to pro--.

vide containers with the invention as an integral part thereof, as well as to provide devices in which the invention is incorporated, which can be inserted, into the mouths. of conventional bottles and other containers for use therein; and still further objects will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section and.

broken away, of a bottle provided with the invention and adapted to receive an insertable cork or stopper;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a bottle provided with the invention and adapted to be sealed by a screw cap;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a pitcher to which the invention is applied;

Figure 4 is a vertical section thereof;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a device to which the invention is applied and which is usable with a conventional container; I

Figure 6 is a cross section of a pouring mouth having the novel features of the invention, and in a position through which the container is being tipped for pouring just before pouring begins;

Figure 7 is a similar view with the container in pouring position;

Figure 8 is a similar view with the container tipped back slightly to stop the pouring;

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the adhering liquid which is outside of the mouth being retracted back into the container, and

cross section of the neck is greater at the upper part of such portion than at lower points thereon. Around the periphery 15 of the upper end of the hollow neck portion is a pouring surface 16 which should be narrow, the maximum permissible width of which increases as the viscosity or cohesion of the liquid to be poured increases. It can conveniently have a Width of 2 to is inch, and preferably less than the latter. It can be horizontal or inclined, and terminates at its outer edge in a curved cut-off rim I! having a radius of curvature expediently of about.

/64 to inch. The outside of the neck has a sharp concave or straight cut-back portion l8.-

The curves of the portions I! and I8 meet at the line I9 which is best about /64 to inch from the plane of the outer face of the neck.

The portions [5 and [9 preferably present rounded and not sharp edges.

The operation of the device is best understood by reference to the sequential views in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive. position shown in Figure 6 the container is tipped toward the horizontal and the position indicated in Figure 7 wherein the fluid 2| flows through the concavity l3 and over the periphprotruding portion 23 and completing the cut- 1 oiT of the pouring operation.

As the tipping of container H continues back toward the vertical the small pool 22 of the. fluid in concavity l3 will tend to flow back to join the main fluid body in the container, and the end 23 thereof, protruding beyond the peripheral edge I5, is prevented from dripping by surface tension or its cohesion to the rest of the pool, or whatever the physical phenomenon may be. As shown in Figure 9, in the continued tipping back of container II, this phenomenon causes the protruding end 23 to be drawn back :into the concavity l3 where it is commingled with the pool of fluid remaining therein. Fi ure 10 indicates that the pool 22 in concavity I3 will flow downwardly from the concavity and over the juncture point l4 upon the further Commencing with the.

tipping ofv container toward. a vertical position.

It has been observed that when syrup or other viscous liquid is being poured and the container I! is moved slowly from pouring to non-pouring position, the formation of the drop fl is more pronounced than in the case of lower viscosity fluids, such as water. Otherwise the rest of the action is the same as that referred-t in:the-- foregoing description of the operation of the device.

Thepool 22.is.a veryimportant feature of the invention: It must be OFsufficient volume to draw back into the. container'the 'liquid which would otherwise drip and notbe drawn out of depression {3 by it, and it must be close enoughthereto to so function; and hence the portion lfi'should be small.

As will be understood from the drawings and this specification; the function of the'concavity' or depression I3 is limited to that portion thereof acrosswhich thepouring occurs. For example, in" thedevice of. Figures 6" to 10; inclusive; the lowermost portion only of' the area" 13 entersinto the pouring, operation while the remainder thereof 'is inoperative. It is, however," more-convenient', although not necessary, to have the. concavity" i3 circumscribe theoutlet toiavoid the' necessity of orienting" the container or bottle" provided: with the invention'to its pouring position; If desired, however, the concavity IS'can. extend laterally for a limited distance only. This is. convenient in the case of containers where pouring therefrom occurs only. over a particular limited; area, for'example with a cone tainerhaving'ahandle to be grasped'while pouring', or'a container having a'limited pouring lip;

Thepitcher' 26 shown on-Figuresti and'4ihas a" handle 27 and a pouring lip 28l This liphas' the same features as the container havinga cir= cularrnouth', except that such features are" of only. limited extent, and'they'are'desi'gnated by the" same reference numbers.

The device shown on Figure 5 is a tubular member 31 also having the same features indicated: by the same reference numbers. It may be provided.v with a peripheral groove to accommodate a gasket 32 as one conventional means to retain it in the neck of, a container when inserted' therein.

The invention is suitable'for dripless' pouring of water, medicines, tea, coffee, milk, cream, syrup, and many other liquids. It functions equally well for pouring a continuous stream, or for measuring out drops, one at a time.

The invention claimed is:

1; In a bottle having a uniformly annular'and vertically extending neck-portionadapting said bottle for closure by a sealing member to be car.- ried concentrically with'respect to said'neck portion, a non-drip pouring structure comprising a pouring surface at the upper end'of said neck portion, a concavity forming at least'a part of the inner surface of said neck portion and having, a maximum depth at the inside margin of said pouring surface, the lower portion of said concavity being curved downwardly and inwardly to allow for gravity'drainage of said concavity, said pouring surface having the outer portion thereof outwardly and downwardly curved and terminating in an outer edge.

2. Ina-bottle having a'uniformly annular and vertically extending neck portion-adapting said bottle for closure by a sealing member to be carried concentrically withrespect tosaid neck portion, a non-drip pouring structure comprising a pouring surface at the upper end of said neck portion, a concavity forming at least a part of the inner surface of said neck portion and having verticallyextending, neck portion adapting, said bottle forclosure by a sealing member to be carried'concentrically with respect to said neck portion, a non-drip pouring.v structure comprisinga pouring surface at the upper. endof. said neck portion, .a concavity, forming at least a part of the inner. surface of said neck portion,..having, a maximumdepth at the inside edge of said pouring surface and being, smoothly curveddownwardly and'inwardly to merge .withthe surface.

of said inner wall therebeneathto allow forgrayity drainage of said concavity, said pouring. surface having an inner planar portion substantially normal .to the adjacent surface oftheconcavity and an outer portion outwardly and downwardly curved and terminating inanedge, and.

said neckportion having. an external. wallsurface extendinginwardly from. said outered'ge. of. the pouring surface.

4. A nonedrip. pouring structure as..set.forth in claim 3, wherein theexternalwallisurface. of-

the neck portion is curved downwardly andwine wardly from the outer. edge of. the. pouringsurface.

51 Adripless pouring bottlecomprising a uniformly annular andvertically. extending bottle.v

neck adapting saidbottle for, closure by. asealing member to be. carried concentricallywith reespect to. said. neck,.. a, pouring. surf aceformedat the upperend of. the. neck, a. concavity formingat least apart of the inner.surfacerofsaid.neck.

and having amaximum depth .at .the. inside mar gin .of. said .pouring surface-the lower portion .of said'concavity being curved downwardly and inwardly to allow. for. gravity drainage. of said-iconcavity, said pouring surfacehaving the outeriportion thereof. outwardly and. downwardly curved and. terminating .in .anouter edge.

ROBERT J.

REFERENCES. CITED.

The following references are of record inrthe file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

